The BOOK – David’s Fall

In 2 Samuel, 11-20, we see the fall of David. May be the golden era of David was before the 11^th chapter. Now what is left is the tale of sin and punishment. His sins of adultery and virtual murder were a terrible blot on David’s life. Even though he asked for forgiveness and God forgave him, the word says, “The sword will never depart from your house” (2 Samuel 12:10). He has to reap what he sowed. 

David’s fall teaches us not to be idle as that was the time Kings go for war. (2 Samuel 11:1-2). He was in that idle listless mood which opened for temptation. His first sin can be the fact that he saw Bathsheba. Seeing a person of the opposite gender is not a sin, or we won’t be able to stop seeing someone in a flash. Evangelist Billy Graham once told to avoid lustful sin is to not look the opposite gender a second time. First time, you may not know. But when you are looking a second time, it is fully with your knowledge. When you look the second time, as David you will cherish it.

Next he brings her to his house. (2 Samuel 11:4) He forgets what is due to the faithful soldier whose wife she is. And then the worse – He sinned against Uriah, one of his bravest soldiers. 

Never neglect watching and praying. An hour’s sleep left Samson at the mercy of Delilah. Try not to fool with even one sin in thought. It doesn’t take a whole box of matches to start a fire. 

Another important person in this book is Nathan, the prophet. God told him David sinned. He knew David was the King and the King can even kill Nathan if he goes and charge him with the sin. But Nathan listened to God and David repented before God (Psalm 51). Even though God forgave him, the punishment was made as David lost his child. After that David suffered when Absalom, David’s son rebelled against him. We can find David’s lament over Absalom when he heard the news of Absalom’s death (2 Samuel 18:19 – 19:4). David sinned once again by numbering the people when God told him not to. The land was punished with a three-day pestilence. 

David gathered great provisions for building the temple and directed his son Solomon to build it. David was a mighty King and warrior. His great spirit is revealed to us in the psalms that he wrote. But he sinned. The story does not end here, because he repented. He is the “Man after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22). Christ is called the “Son of David” and David stands halfway between Abraham and Christ. He sinned, but he repented and gave God a chance to forgive and cleanse him. He took a chaotic nation and established a dynasty that was to last to the time of the captivity.

When you become closer with God in prayer, you will start getting tough task. So pray to be stronger. The greatness of your spiritual power is the measure of your surrender. It is not a question of who you are, or of what you are, but whether God controls you. David life teaches us to cling onto God in whatever situation we go through. We may sin. Repent it and sin no more. But understand that Christ died for our sins and when we repent, God hears us and he forgives and forgets our sins. May God bless you and stay holy. Amen.